Only 25% of UK drivers would describe themselves as comfortable with the idea of using an autonomous vehicle, according to a new survey.

The study – part of a joint research project by Goodyear and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) looking at drivers’ attitudes towards autonomous vehicles – found that a similar proportion of motorists (28%) would feel comfortable driving alongside a self-driving vehicle.

I think we can all agree that Autonomous Vehicles are coming. But the speed and impact remain an unknown factor for most drivers.

— Carlos Cipollitti, Director of the Goodyear Innovation Centre

However, more than half of the drivers surveyed would feel uncomfortable both using an autonomous vehicle and driving alongside one.

The research also found that drivers who are confident about technology and find driving stressful are typically more comfortable with the prospect of self-driving cars on the roads.

“I think we can all agree that Autonomous Vehicles are coming,” said Carlos Cipollitti, Director of the Goodyear Innovation Centre. “But the speed and impact remain an unknown factor for most drivers.

“Understanding how drivers experience the road today and how they feel AVs should fit into it will therefore be key to ensuring AV’s successful introduction.”

Safety is a key factor in determining how comfortable motorists are with driverless vehicles, found the survey.

Almost half (44%) of UK respondents agreed that ‘machines don’t have emotions so they might be better drivers than humans’, while 41% agreed that ‘most accidents are caused by human error, so autonomous vehicles will be safer’.

Despite this, almost two-thirds of UK respondents believe a human driver should be in control of the vehicle, with 85% agreeing that autonomous vehicles could malfunction – reflecting a trust issue that carmakers will need to work to overcome.

At the same time, perhaps reflecting their comfort with traditional vehicle design, 78% of UK respondents believe that an autonomous vehicle should continue to have a steering wheel, found the survey.

Dr. Chris Tennant, who led the project for LSE, said: “AVs are not simply another new technology. They are a technology that is gradually emerging into an intensely social space.

“It is therefore no surprise that a wide range of factors influence the public’s level of openness towards them.”

Get our latest news

Sign up now for our email newsletter – Behind the Wheel

Email Address

Thank you for signing up. Please keep an eye out for your first newsletter!

Forecasts

The connected car market could reach USD219.21 billion by 2025, thanks to government mandates supporting connected car technology and an increase in demand for a safer, more efficient and convenient driving experience through connected services, according to a new report from MarketsandMarkets.

The convergence of three trends – vehicle electrification, autonomous driving and shared mobility –could see new mobility technology drive 40% of auto industry profits by 2035, according to new research from the Boston Consulting Group.

Aided by the rapid convergence of autonomous driving and mobility services such as ride-hailing, the number of autonomous vehicles sold annually in 2040 could surpass 33 million, according to a report by IHS Markit.

The need for a safe and productive driving experience and the growth of connected vehicle technology could see the size of the autonomous vehicle for luxury segment reach 126,774 units by 2030, according to a new MarketsandMarkets forecast.

The global market for advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous driving components could reach more than $61 billion by the year 2026, led by an increase in the number of automated vehicles, according to a new market intelligence report by BIS Research.